Made In The Triad: Honor Card 25th Anniversary

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The Honor Card is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The Honor Card program raises awareness and funds for the homeless. The program started in Greensboro and has spread to 13 cities in North Carolina.

Renowned artist William Mangum provides the artwork for the cards. He's been involved in the Honor Card program since 1988, around the time he and a homeless man became friends.

"As I reflect on 25 years, I think of the pride I have with it is Mike Saavedra's legacy and life lessons he taught me. The fact even ahomeless, mentally ill individual can give you something you can walk away with and grow from, that's what I'm grateful for," explained Mangum.

A minimum of $5 is requested for each Honor Card. All proceeds go to help the homeless. The program has raised more than $4.5 million dollars since its inception.

Mangum said, "I'm so humbled the community has embraced it and supported it so strongly for 25 years."

To mark the milestone, Mangum wrote "Michael's Gift," a book about the Honor Card Program, the inspiration for each painting and the lessons he learned from his homeless friend.

His friend died three years after they first met but his memory lives on with Mangum and the HonorCard Program.

Honor Cards can be found at William Mangum's Gallery in Greensboro and at Greensboro Urban Ministry.